The first blog by a British prisoner. Variously described as being "obviously extremely intelligent" (Michael Gove MP), "full of shit" (Mark Leach) and a "fully paid up member of the awkward squad" (Parole Board), I try to generate debate around the moral and political nexus that is imprisonment. Imprisoned between ages 14 to 47, released on Licence in August 2012

Friday, January 14, 2011

Hello? Anybody there..?

I'm just wondering if our new local MP, Christine Hunt, is ever going to bother replying to any of the letters written to her by people here, or even visit and hold a surgery?

Existentially Anon is quite right. You and your fellow MRPs do not exist; you are ghosts at most. Who writes to ghosts? Queenie's quite right to look forward to a slightly better future, but even then prisons, and therefore prisoners, will not be a local issue and therefore (am I right?) will be of little account to honourable members on the out.

I hate to put a downer on these things, but assuming Ben is still held at HMP Shepton Mallet his MP is Tessa Munt, so this poor Christine Hunt woman is probably very confused as to why prisoners keep wanting to speak to her regarding parliamentary affairs.

There's no such MP as Christine Hunt. Maybe the editor misread? Seems more likely to be Tessa Munt - and you can see how that could be mis-transcribed!

On another matter, though, I think the MP of a prisoner is the MP for where they lived before in prison. That is certainly the constituency they will be voting in as apostal voter according to the current proposals.

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About Me

Previously known as "one of Britain's best known prisoners...he constantly questions authority and exposes the futility of the system" The Times, I was finally released from prison after 32 years in August 2012. Pleading guilty to the murder of a friend when I was 14 years old, I renounced violence and fought for the recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings.
As a result of speaking truth to power, I has served far longer than the recommended 10 years, leading Education Secretary Michael Gove to argue that I "has been punished excessively for a crime committed as a child".
One of the more intellectual of prisoner-campaigners, Ben chose to educate himself from a schoolboy level to having both undergraduate and post graduate degrees. He is currently one of very few prisoners in Britain ever to attempt a Doctorate. Ben's speciality is non-violent action and the Human Needs Theory.
Now on Life Licence, I am forging a career as a CJ policy consultant, writer and - as ever - campaigner.